End-user Development
End users create simple information system using fourth-generation
languages, graphics languages, and PC software tools for accessing data,
creating reports, and developing entire information systems on their own,
with little or no help from professional systems analysts or programmers.
However, fourth-generation tools still cannot replace conventional tools for
some business applications because they cannot easily handle the
processing of large numbers of transactions or applications with extensive
procedural logic and updating requirements.
End-user development also poses organizational risks because systems are
created rapidly, without a formal development methodology, testing, and
documentation.
To help organizations maximize the benefits of end-user applications
development, management should require cost justification of end-user
information system projects and establish hardware, software, and quality
standards for user-developed applications.